Town Square

New trade agreement could help small- to mid-sized companies export goods

Original post made
on May 17, 2010

Whether it's Mac apple fruit or computers, there's a new initiative to help expand trade into some hard-to-reach markets. Demetrious Marantis of the U.S. Trade Department spoke to a room full of hopeful exporters Monday at an event hosted by Congressman Jerry McNerney (11th District) in San Ramon about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement.

Posted by Rick Pshaw
a resident of Danville
on May 17, 2010 at 7:31 pm

I've never read or heard anything from this McNerney character until recently and now only a few days go by and the media is again flogging his name all over the place. Is he running for some sort of political office?

I like to hear from my reps even when they're not running for re-election, but I guess that's asking too much for some of them.

Posted by CDSI Research
a resident of another community
on May 18, 2010 at 7:00 am

Dear Emily,

As the EXPRESS continues to publish news releases without research or background on the information, your very-savvy readership among global professionals wonders about EMC East Bay's purpose. In this news release a specific trade pact is discussed as if international trade has not been successful for small to medium size businesses. In reality trade throughout the Pacific Rim by our greater bay area has grown geometrically since 1980. Technology, wine, chemistry, and much more has been shipped to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand in volume for more than 25 years.

It might be fashionable to discuss technology development and open trade as election campaign releases but it more important to recognize the achievements in those efforts by industry professionals within our corridor, among our regional companies and our trade associations. The real value of the Trans-Pacific Partnership in being liaison with established trade relationships created by industry professionals and their trade associations. The USAmerican Trade efforts of the Federal Government has been associated with the success of trade associations representing many global industries and has learned much from industry professionals.

Posted by Local biz owner
a resident of Danville
on May 18, 2010 at 3:23 pm

Speaking as someone who was actually at the event yesterday: Marantis knows his stuff, and there's huge untapped potential for small/med business exports to the Pac Rim (and there's been a huge decline in US market share in the last 10 years). I didn't detect anything about "fashionable" technology, etc. - it sounds like they're trying to help us. What a concept - is that too hard to accept? Why all the carping?

Posted by CDSI Research
a resident of another community
on May 19, 2010 at 8:12 am

Dear Emily,

Let's be very clear about global export opportunities and how they are supported in our region. US Government programs as noted in the news release you published are based on support by industry trade associations that have global reach and relationships. Be it wine, food, high tech, low tech or no tech products, there are trade associations that are primary global outreach for our country.

The value of trade associations in dedicated industries is the ability to know markets, channels and definition of needed products. More importantly, trade associations can define products to specific country's compliance and demand. And most importantly, trade associations have more time in global markets than their US Government counterparts with more trust by such foreign markets.

For your readers that are interested in global markets, the US Government programs and industry trade associations are the combined resources that allow very targeted product to reach channels of sales and market demand globally. All such resources should be part of such global product planning to minimize risks, costs and time-to-market.

The goal of this commentary is to expand resources for local businesses as they consider a global presence. My suggestion would be to explore such trade groups via www.linkedin.com and other direct, on-line resources.

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